Variety of Calla Lily plant named &#39;Forever&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Forever’ is a new variety of calla lily having inflorescences with a pink-colored spathe that produces 5-20 inflorescences per tuber. The inflorescence stems are about 30 cm in height. The leaves are green without whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/964,771, having a filing date of Apr. 11, 2014, and entitled “Varieties of Calla Lily Plants”, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Zantedeschia sprengeri

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘FOREVER’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Forever’.

‘Forever’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had the objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production in a wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breeding program began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected from the crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri ‘Swan Lake’ (female parent, unpatented) with a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to as C04011 (male parent, unpatented). ‘Forever’ was selected in 2007 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Forever’ by tissue culture was performed by the inventor in September of 2009 in 't Zand, The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at the same location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in a 14 cm pot in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticulture Society of London, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Forever’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Pink-colored spathe;

2. Absence of white spots on leaves; and

3. High inflorescence production.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Forever’ to its parents, Zantedeschia sprengeri ‘Swan Lake’ and selection C04011.

TABLE 1 ‘Forever’ Similarities Differences ‘Swan Lake’ Spathe shape Spathe color Plant height Number of spathes C04011 Number of spathes Spathe shape Spathe color Plant height

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a single plant of the new variety;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a side view of a single plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 3 is an overhead view of a single plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   The plant:     -   -   Size.—Height of the leaf canopy above the soil: 7-45 cm.             Height of top of inflorescence above the soil: 20-40 cm.             Diameter: 20-45 cm.         -   Form.—Erect.         -   Number of inflorescences per tuber.—Size 14-16 cm in             diameter: 5-8 inflorescences. Size 16-18 cm in diameter:             6-15 inflorescences. Size 18-20 cm in diameter: 7-20             inflorescences.         -   Branches.—Character: Many; like the variety ‘Odessa’ (U.S.             Plant Pat. No. 18,833). Color: Between Yellow-Green Group             RHS 146A and Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187A.         -   Leaves.—Size: Width: 2.5-13 cm. Length: 10-25 cm. Number per             plant: 25-35. Shape: Lanceolate. Color: Upper surface: Green             Group RHS 137A to 137B. Lower surface: Green Group RHS 137C             to 137D. Margin: Undulate; having a color of Green Group RHS             137A to 137B. Veins: Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Green             Group RHS 143A to 143B. Surface quality: Leathery. Petiole:             Length: 6-25 cm. Color: The base is White Group RHS 155A,             and the upper part is Green Group RHS 143A and 143B.         -   Roots.—Color: White. Branching: Similar to other             Zantedeschia varieties. -   The inflorescence and seeds:     -   -   Spathe.—Size: Length (measured from base opening to tip):             4-8 cm. Width: 4-6 cm. Height: 5-9 cm. Color: Upper surface:             Varies between Red-Purple Group RHS 58A and 58B. Lower             surface: Varies between Yellow-Green Group RHS 145C and             145D. Vein color: Between Red-Purple Group RHS 58A and 58B.             Shape: Cupped.         -   Spadix.—Size: Length: 30-50 mm. Diameter: 4-9 mm. Color:             Between Yellow Group RHS 11A and 11B. Position relative to             spathe: Upright.         -   Peduncle.—Size: Length: 15-35 cm. Diameter: 4-15 mm. Color:             The upper part is between Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A and             144B, and the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Location of female organs: Basal             position of the spadix. Location of male organs: Upper             position of the spadix. Perianth: Conspicuous. Stamens:             Presence: Not visible before pollen release. Number: More             than 20. Pollen amount: Similar to ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 15,282). Color: Between White Group RHS 155A and             155B.         -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than I mm. Color: Between             Yellow Group RHS 11A and 11B.         -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group             RHS 155A and 155B.         -   Pistil.—Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1             mm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.         -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow Group             RHS 13C and 13D.         -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:             Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is between Orange-White             Group RHS 159A and 159B, bottom color is from White Group             RHS 155B to Green-White Group RHS 157C.         -   Seeds.—Length: 4-7 mm. Width: 3-6 mm. Color: Between             Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A. Amount: Between 1-50. -   General:     -   -   Disease resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to diseases             noticed to date.         -   Pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed             to date.         -   Heat tolerance.—No heat tolerance.         -   Hardiness.—Not hardy.         -   Flowering.—Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands             in February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted             outdoors in The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in             July.         -   Lastingness.—About two weeks on the plant.         -   Fragrance.—None. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily named ‘Forever’ as herein described and illustrated. 